Seedless table grape ‘Itumfifteen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of grapevine named ‘Itumfifteen’ is herein disclosed. ‘Itumfifteen’ abundantly forms medium sized pink seedless berries with an attractive globose berry shape, a muscat flavor and a very crunchy and firm berry texture. Being mid-season variety, the fruit commonly is ready for harvesting in from July to early September in Blanca, Murcia, Spain. ‘Itumfifteen’ displays good eating qualities as a table grape, the fruit meatiness and firmness render the fruit amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

Latin name of the genus and species: Vitis vinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘Itumfifteen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A breeding program was initiated during 2003 at a research nursery in Blanca, Murcia, Spain. During the development of this breeding program, a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created by deliberate cross breeding of two parent plants by emasculation of the pollen bearing organ of the female and introducing pollen from another male origin. The female parent of the new variety is ‘ITUM -150-242’, an unpatented proprietary selection. The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new variety is ‘Superior’, unpatented.

‘Itumfifteen’ was identified as a potentially interesting selection during 2014 at the same location in Murcia, Spain. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, first propagation of ‘Itumfifteen’ by vegetative cuttings was undertaken during 2015, at the research nursery in Murcia, Spain. Controlled testing and propagation of the new variety continued, to assess stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Subsequently, several generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. No publications have been issued on the plant breeding invention. No commercial sales occurred before the filing of the US plant patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Itumfifteen’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The new variety ‘Itumfifteen’ is pink seedless table grape with medium production and a high fertility index “1, 8”. In addition to the before mentioned characteristics, the following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Itumfifteen’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Itumfifteen’ as a new and distinct Vitis cultivar:

-   -   1. Medium to large sized individual fruit with pink skin         coloration; formed in medium-to-large clusters.     -   2. An attractive globose berry shape.     -   3. A mid-season season variety, commonly bears fruit for         harvesting from July until early September in the region of         Murcia, Spain.     -   4. Very firm berry texture.     -   5. Absence of seeds.     -   6. Resistance to cracking.     -   7. Fruit has been found to be suitable for handling and         shipping.     -   8. Observed tolerance of water shortage.     -   9. Observed tolerance for temperatures up to 41° C.     -   10. Muscat flavor profile.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETIES

TABLE 1 Parental A (fem) Characteristic ‘Itumfifteen’ ITUM ‘150-242’ Berry Skin Color Pink Light yellow Formation of Seeds Seedless Rudimentary Parental B (masc.) Characteristic ‘Itumfifteen’ ‘Superior’ Berry Flavor: Muscat Neutral Berry Skin Color Pink Yellow Berry Shape: Globose Narrow Ellipsoid

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

TABLE 2 ‘Crimson’ Characteristic ‘Itumfifteen’ (unpatented) Berry Flavor Muscat Neutral Berry shape Globose Narrow Ellipsoid ‘Flame’ Characteristic ‘Itumfifteen’ (unpatented) Berry texture Very firm Slightly Firm Berry Flavor Muscat Sweet

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical samples of vegetative growth of a 5 year old specimen of the new variety, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character. Plants were grown in Murcia, Spain. Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description below, which accurately describes the colors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fruit cluster of ‘Itumfifteen’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the trunk of ‘Itumfifteen’.

FIG. 3 illustrates in close up perspective typical foliage of the new variety, both front and back of the leaf.

FIG. 4 illustrates an immature stem with tendrils.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Some descriptors, when useful have been incorporated from UPOV Grape Descriptor Guidelines. The description is based on the observation of plants growing on ‘1103 Paulsen’ rootstock in clay stony soil conditions in the fields near Blanca, Murcia, Spain. The age of plant described is of 5 years, with an average height of 200 cm, a high canopy density, a 300 cm plant spread, a one-year growth rate to reach two meters high and 20 to 30 days to initiate roots at approx. 20° C. At observation location temperature ranged between 15° C. to 35° C. during the day, and between 5° C. to 20° C. during the night.

-   Botanical classification: Vitis vinifera ‘Itumfifteen’.

CANES

-   Characteristics of mature canes:     -   -   Diameter.—1.4 to 1.8 cm.         -   Length.—40 to 50 cm.         -   Color.—Medium light brown (164C RHS).         -   Cross section shape.—Circle.         -   Strength.—Medium.         -   Texture.—Non-pubescent, rough. -   Lenticels: Diameter <0.5 mm.     -   -   Density.—Few to-moderate.         -   Color.—Medium light brown (164C RHS). -   Internode length: 8-10 cm; midpoint 10 cm.     -   -   Pigmentation at internode, dorsal.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange             164C).         -   Pigmentation at internode, ventral.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange             164C). -   Tendril pattern on show: 0,0,0,0,0,1,0 or 0,0,0,0,0,0,1.     -   -   Tendrils forked.—Yes.         -   Tendril texture.—Glabrous.         -   Tendril length.—6 to 20 cm. -   Bud width: 0.5 to 1.0 cm.     -   -   Bud length.—0.3 to 0.5 cm.         -   Bud shape.—Triangular.         -   Bud color.—Light yellow brown Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D,             flushed 162D. -   Young shoot:     -   -   Openness of tip.—Open. Anthocyanin not present in Shoot             pigmentation.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Diameter.—0.8 to 1.2 cm.         -   Longitudinal Length.—1.4 m to 3.5 m; average 2.0 m.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 164D, streaked 165D.         -   Cross section.—Circular.         -   Strength.—Medium.         -   Attitude.—Erect.         -   Bark texture.—Shaggy.         -   Bark color.—Near RHS Greyed-Red 178A streaked 180A.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 16 per cane.         -   Average length.—19 cm.         -   Average width.—17 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Broad obovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Shallow dentations.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Aspect.—Undulate. -   Sinuses:     -   -   Shape of petiolar sinus.—Low widened.         -   Shape of base petiolar sinus.—Low widened.         -   Depth of petiolar sinus.—1.3 cm.         -   Width of petiolar sinus.—0.7 cm.         -   Shape of upper sinuses.—Low widened. -   Color:     -   -   Immature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D             streaked 150D.         -   Immature foliage under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D             streaked 150D.         -   Mature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Green 137A.         -   Mature foliage under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. -   Venation: Type: pinnate.     -   -   Venation color upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C.         -   Venation color under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—12 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A) with weak Anthocyanin             presence near base, Red 36C.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Flowering period begins around April, 20 to 27 in Murcia, Spain. -   Inflorescence when in bud:     -   -   Length.—9 cm.         -   Diameter.—4 cm.         -   Bud color.—Near RHS Green 140B.         -   Bud shape.—Conical.         -   Bud size.—About 1 to 2 mm by 1 to 2 mm. -   Individual flower:     -   -   Main time of flowering.—7 days.         -   Size of entire flower (to end of stamens).—0.6 cm.         -   Calyx shape.—Funnel.         -   Calyx size.—1.3 cm.         -   Calyx color.—Near RHS Green 140A.         -   Calyx apex.—Rounded.         -   Calyx base.—Rounded.         -   Calyx texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.         -   Diameter.—15 mm.         -   Quantity per flowering stem.—5.         -   Days lasting on plant.—7 days. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Arrangement.—Symmetrical rotate.         -   Length.—0.17 cm.         -   Width.—<0.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Ovate.         -   Base.—Ovate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Soft.         -   Color.—At opening upper surface: Near RHS Green 140B. At             opening lower surface: Near RHS Green 140B. Fully opened             upper Surface: Near RHS Green 140B. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Fruit peduncle length.—45 mm.         -   Fruit peduncle width.—4 mm.         -   Angle.—About 55° to the lateral branch.         -   Fruit peduncle strength.—Firm-hard.         -   Fruit peduncle texture.—Soft.         -   Color.—Light green (142D RHS). -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.05 cm.         -   Angle.—About 60° to center of flower cluster.         -   Strength.—Medium.         -   Texture.—Softly pubescent.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 141C. -   Fragrance: Absent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Number of stamens.—5.         -   Anthers.—Shape: oblong. Length: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color:             Near Yellow 9C.         -   Pollen.—Color: Near Yellow 8A.         -   Quantity.—Abundant.         -   Pistil quantity.—1. Length: 0.3 cm.         -   Style.—Length: <0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 143C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: round. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.         -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.

FRUIT

-   Cluster:     -   -   Average length.—21 cm.         -   Average diameter.—17 cm.         -   Average weigh.—600 grams.         -   Fertility index.—Number of clusters per sprouted buds 1,8. -   Fruit:     -   -   Average length.—2.3 cm.         -   Average diameter.—2.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Globose.         -   Cross-section.—Circular.         -   Color of berry skin.—Near RHS Red 48C.         -   Color of berry flesh.—Translucent, near White 155B.         -   Brix at harvest.—21.         -   Ease of detachment from pedicle.—Difficult, well hooked and             difficult detachment.         -   Thickness of skin.—Thin.         -   Firmness of flesh.—Crunchy and very firm.         -   Particular flavor.—Muscat.         -   Fruit peduncle length.—5.5 mm.         -   Fruit peduncle width.—4 mm.         -   Fruit peduncle texture.—Firm, hard.         -   Fruit peduncle color.—Near Green 143C.         -   Formation of seeds.—None. Seeds are absent in this variety.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor     resistant to normal diseases and pests of Vitis vinifera. -   Temperature tolerance: Observed growing between 6° C. to 41° C. -   Temperature tolerance: Observed to tolerate water shortages during     the dry Summer months of Murcia, Spain without detriment. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vitis grapevine named ‘Itumfifteen’ as herein illustrated and described. 